"Hindi ka nilalamig?"

I guess, we're here for almost 20 minutes? I lost my count. Nakaupo lang ako sa hagdan, nakatanaw sa tatlong building na parang may barko sa taas. Of most building, its light stands out. Kahit saan ka pumunta, matatanaw mo talaga ang building na 'yan. I even dreamt of working there, but unluckily, I chose not to. Maybe, this wasn't the right time for me.

"Hindi pa naman." I hugged myself after that. Naka-office attire pa rin ako, habang siya naman ay naka-tshirt lang at pants. "How about you? Puwede naman na tayong umalis, if you want."

Madaming tao sa paligid. Palagi talagang crowded ang Merlion Park, pero mas madaming tao kapag umaga. So, if you want to enjoy the view more and longer, the best time was sunset or night time.

"Hindi pa rin. I guess, we could stay here a little longer." He sat beside me and stared at the lonely sea.

I wanted him to talk more. I don't think I can stand this kind of situation. Parang naging awkward bigla ang hangin sa pagitan naming dalawa. The only thing I can hear is gossips, and flash of the camera from the people who probably taking pictures of the scenery.

Kanina pa ako nag-picture, kaya ngayon, uupo na lang ako.

"Kumain ka na?" I turned to him when he asked me. Nagtatapon siya ng mga bato sa tubig, pero tumingin din sa'kin nang tanungin ako. Ilang sandali kaming nagkatinginan saka ako umiling. "You should eat dinner. I presumed that you had a tough day, so you shouldn't let your self starve."

"Hindi pa naman----,"

"I know place where you can eat. Come on." Hindi niya na pinatapos ang sasabihin ko at nauna nang tumayo. Inabot niya ang kamay niya kaya napatingin ako do'n. Hindi ko 'yun inabot at tumayo sa sariling paa. His hand left hanging. Nakita ko pa kung paano niya 'yung awkward na ibaba, at yumuko nang kaunti.

"Tara na."

"Ah, right." He let out a chuckle before following me.

Kinailangan pa naming sumakay ulit ng sasakyan niya para lang maghanap ng makakainan. Mukhang alam na alam niya talaga ang pasikot-sikot ng lugar dahil simple lang kung magpatakbo siya. Unlike me who struggled a lot with directions.

Well, obviously, Callan, he was raised here, what do you expect? Dumb.

Tinanaw ko pa ang Merlion na ngayon ay lumiliwanag hanggang sa tuluyan na itong mawala sa paningin ko. Hays, when can I go back there again? I'm talking as if that place require miles for me to reach.

Nang makarating, agad akong bumaba. Maliwanag ang loob nito. Madami ding mga lamesa sa loob, at ang mga poste ay may design na parang kahoy. Marami ring usok na makikita sa liwanag, so I assume na isa 'tong ihawan. I followed him when he gestured us to sit on the table available.

"Just order what you want." He's eyeing me with a smile on his face.

I grab the menu to look for something. I actually wanted to eat Chilli Crab this night. Chili Crab is one of the famous dishes in Singapore, and I just tasted it once. Hindi ko lang maalala kung kailan pero alam kong natikman ko na 'yun.

Nang masabi ko ang gusto ko, siya naman ang pinapili ko, pero ang sabi niya ay kung ano ang akin, 'yun na lang din ang kaniya. Hindi ko na lang inangalan. Baka tinatamad siyang mamili kaya nakigaya na lang. I shouldn't make it a big deal, anyways.

Hindi ko alam kung anong iniisip niya habang nakatulala at hinihintay ang pagkain. He looks like his mind is flying somewhere that he didn't even realize I was looking at him the whole time.

"May tanong pala ako." Then I remembered the car he was talking last time. Napaangat ang tingin niya sa'kin dahil sa sinabi ko.

"Go on." He nods, giving me a little smile.

"About the car you've mention b-before," I suddenly feel embarrassed. The nerves of me to cut him off last time and now, asking him about that. Nag-isip siya saglit pero nang maalala, pinatong niya ang braso saka tumango. "I actually needed car."

"I'll try to talk to the owner about that. I will tell you the details once we already talked." Umayos ulit siya ng upo nang ilapag ang pagkain na in-order namin. "When do you need it?"

"This week. You can take your time, I know you also had works." Kinuha ko ang mangkok ng chilli crab at nilapag ko sa harap ko. "Thanks."

"No problem."

Then we started eating. We casually had a dinner together. Like what expected in Singapore's dish, it was good. Chilli Crab suits the cold atmosphere, and it somehow heated up my chilling nerves. Dillion finished his food immediately, so he have to wait for me to finish mine too. I am not really heavy eater now, unlike before when I could finish the foods within minutes.

We stayed there a little bit, letting our tummy to digest all the foods we intake. Mukhang hinihintay niya na lang talaga ako kaya tumayo na rin ako at sinabing aalis na kami. He didn't say anything and just stand up.

It was a peaceful and nice night for me. After he dropped me off on my unit, he immediately leave. I had to clean some mess before cleaning myself and dozing off to sleep.

Kinabukasan, maaga akong umalis dahil naalala kong ako pala ang napiling mag-present ng head namin. It wasn't the first time I will present in front of boards so, I didn't take it too heavy.

Nang makarating sa building, inalok ulit ako ni Cybelle ng kape. Ever since we made friends, she's the one who used to give me coffees. I thanked her before fixing the things I'll use to the presentation.

The CEO really hate waiting. He's so strict with his time, like it's the only thing he had. Oldies things.

And I also didn't want to embarrass myself in front of them. I wasn't used of embarrassment. I just prayed that I won't stutter, like last time. I rolled my eyes remembering the last time I presented. I looked stiff...and dumb.

Sino ba namang hindi kakabahan kapag first time makita ang board?

"Callan, 15 minutes!"

"Yes!" I answered our head. She gives me a thumbs up, and that's my cue to stand up.

With my folders and laptop, I silently went to the meeting area. Nasa taas lang 'yun ng palapag kung saan ako nagta-trabaho kaya hindi na din ako nahirapan. I can feel my hands sweating but I didn't mind it.

I was actually surprised to see Fragid there. Kaya pala wala siya sa department kanina. He even waved his hands on me, but I ignored him. Instead, I started to operate my presentations. Kakaunti pa lang ang nandito sa loob, and they are having informal talks. Mga head ng bawat department.

About sa budgeting lang naman ang kailangan kong ipaliwanag sa kanila kaya sa tingin ko ay mabilis lang itong matatapos.

Nang dumating ang CEO, agad kong sinimulan ang pagpapaliwanag. All eyes are on me, and their ears are really focused on what I am saying. Some of them will whisper something on his seatmate, but I couldn't careless. All I wanted now is to finished this. Some of them are expressing no emotion and just taking notes.

"Since, there are new projects the Engineering department will launch, our team saw that there will be a problem with funds." I looked at the monitor and showed them the estimated budget of the new project. "It's either we postpone the project, or we have to loan a big amount."

Nagpatuloy lang ako sa pagsasalita. Minsan, naaabala ako kapag may tanong sila, pero buti na lang ay nasasagot ko nang maayos. Especially the Engineer department head officer. Mukhang nagbaon talaga ng tanong, which was justifiable since him and his team are in-charge of this project.

"The table is now open for queries."

Silence followed after that. Everyone seems to get and understand my presentation. The CEO's face was relieved, so as the whole board. Nakatingin lang ako sa kanila, tinitingnan kung may magtatanong.

Fragid raised his hand, and I had no choice but to accommodate his question. Tumango ako sa kaniya, sign na puwede na siyang magtanong.

"If we're going to postpone the project, when do you think is the best time to continue it?" he asked.

"We have to see first the statistic sale of the company. If it was good, the engineer department can resume the said project next year." I told them. "If the sales failed the estimation this year, either we have to loan or reject the project. But that was just my suggestion."

The decision wasn't on my hand after all. I am here to clear things, not to decide.

Katahimikan ulit ang sunod na namayani. Mukha namang wala nang follow up questions ang mga tao dito kaya nakahinga ako nang maluwag.

"Give me the hard copies of the presentation." Tumango lang ako sa sinabi ng CEO. "Meeting adjourned."

Naglakad na siya palabas. Sumunod naman ang ibang member ng board, habang ako, naiwan para iligpit ang mga ginamit ko. I was actually glad that I delivered it well.

"Good job." I feel Fragid's hand tapped my shoulder before walking away.

I have to went back on the office after that to fix the documents I had to submit on the chief executive. Inayos ko na lang ang formats para hindi magulo basahin. Pati 'yung mga graphs, I have to adjust them.

Bandang tanghali nang mapasa ko 'yun. Sa head ko na nga lang sana ipapasa kaso wala siya sa office kaya ako na lang. I had to use stair, because the elevator to that floor is broken.

"Good afternoon, Sir."

I glanced at Fragid as I enter the office. Him and executive officer, are having a small talk. Sabagay, baka ngayon na lang ulit sila nagkita. He gestured me to come in.

"These are the files you needed." I put the folder on his table. He immediately scanned it and nod at me. "I have to go now, Sir. Thank you."

Umalis na din kaagad ako para hindi ko na sila maabala sa pag-uusap nila. Kaagad akong nagtungo sa cubicle ko para ipagpatuloy ang trabaho ko kanina. Nakayuko lang ako habang naglalakad papunta sa table ko.

"Callan, sa canteen tayo mag-lunch! Sabay tayo!"

Tanghali na nang magyaya si Cybelle. The canteen she's talking about is the cafeteria of this building. But no, I don't like the taste of the food they are serving. I eat there once, and I, somehow, regretted it.

I am talking as if I despise that place.

"I don't like the food there." I answered with no hint of lies.

"Sabagay. Hindi siya masarap, nasanay lang dila ko," she bit her nails. "Sige, ako na lang. Who am I naman kasi 'di ba? Kidding."

I watched her walked away. Nagkasalubong pa sila ni Fragid saglit, at nakita ko namang sumama sa kaniya ang lalaki. Maganda naman kasi talaga siya kasama kaya hindi ako magtataka na napilit niya ang lalaki. Cybelle is just two years older than him, so they will really fit to be with each other.

I get my phone on my pocket when it vibrate. A smile formed on my lips and answered it. Inipit ko lang ito sa balikat at tainga ko habang inaayos ang ilang papel.

"Why did you call?" I was so used of that word whenever she's calling me.

"Ate mo, 'to. Nakakahiya naman, kuya." I laughed when she emphasized the latter. I can even imagine her, rolling her eyes on me. "Anyways, how are you there? Are you good?"

"Surviving," I answered shortly. I heard her sighed about something. Tumayo naman ako at kinuha ang mahahalagang gamit, saka naglakad palabas ng department namin. "How about you? Is Aeron taking care of you? Don't tire your self."

Pumasok ako sa elevator at pinagpalasalamat kong mag-isa lang akong nakasakay do'n. Agad kong pinindot ang pinakababang floor.

"Oo naman, 'no, duh! Tingin mo sa'kin? Pasaway na bata?" Mahina lang akong natawa sa pinagsasabi niya. We became silent afterwards. I even have check if the call ended but, no. "Hindi ka ba uuwi ngayong pasko? Ilang taon ka nang hindi nakakasama sa celebrations. Nakakatampo ka, chos."

I wasn't able to answer her immediately because I have to walk again. I really don't have plans yet on going back there, so, like before, the reason I will say is, "I'm busy."

"Okay, I understand. Tumawag lang ako para kumustahin ka. Kumain ka na. Ako na magsasabi, alam ko namang walang magsasabi sa'yo niyan." I rolled my eyes.

"Tell Cleo to take care, too."

"Cleo's doing good. May girlfriend na nga, 'e. She's pretty, you should meet her soon, prick." I smiled with what she said. Cleo's helping our brother in managing our parent's business, and I was glad that he's okay.

"Babe, I told you not to overuse phone." I heard Aeron's voice.

"I'm talking to Callan. And excuse me? Overuse? I just hold it for like 5 minutes. You're overreacting."

"Callan? Hey, bro! What's up!"

"Good. I have to drop it off now. Take care, Ate, and Aeron."

And just like that, I dropped the call. Agad ko namang tinungo ang kainan na lagi kong kinakainan. Naabutan ko kaagad si Dillion do'n na mukhang hinihintay lang din ang order niya. I avoided his eyes and went straight to the counter.

"Hi." I have no choice but to sat in front of him. Hindi ko alam kung sinasadya ba 'yun ng tadhana pero mas pinili ko na lang na 'wag pansinin. He seems carefree with his blue long sleeve dress shirt. Nakatupi pa hanggang siko niya ang sleeves, revealing the nerves on his arm.

When he received no response from me, he keep his mouth shut and just watch me consume my food. Sinimulan niya na din ang kaniya kaya natahimik ang lamesa namin.

"Here..." I looked at him when he handed me a tissue. Nang mapagtanto ang sinasabi niya, agad akong kumuha ng sariling tissue. He looked at it and to the tissue he handed me. "Ah, yeah, sa k-kabila."

I thanked him after that. He was just staring at his plate, and I can't help myself but to stare at him. He seems unaware of it. Pero hindi ko kaagad naiiwas ang mata ko nang umangat ang tingin niya. A smile formed in his lips.

"You've changed a lot."

A painful smile.

~* xxx *~

A/N: Another update kasi why not? Good day!